Political parties were told by the Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya that no European countries would be invited to monitor provincial elections.
In light of concerns that Sri Lanka will restrict media access to international journalists to cover the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), the Sri Lanka government have outlined that it will entirely follow the guidelines set by the Commonwealth Secretariat.
The Sri Lankan Police have announced that ‘special units’ are being set up in every police station in Jaffna, specifically for the upcoming Northern Provincial Council elections.
Speaking on the announcement, the Senior Superintendent of Police Jaffna said that they would be operating 24 hours a day, adding,
Troops from the US Naval Special Warfare Community and the Sri Lankan Armed Forces began their annual joint training program in Trincomalee earlier this week, reported Sri Lanka’s Navy.
Sri Lanka's Chief Government Whip, Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, told Parliament on Wednesday that the partner of the murdered British citizen, Khuram Shaikh, was not subjected to any rape or sexual violence.
Gunawardena said that she 'had only received serious injuries as a result of being assaulted', reported Ceylon Today.
However, earlier this year, Shaikh's partner Victoria Alexandravona, speaking in an interview said,
“You try not to think that could have happened but it’s disgusting because they killed Khuram and sexually assaulted me”.
When Gunawardena was challenged, by highlighting the fact that her testimony contradicted his remarks, Gunawardena replied:
“I am presenting the answer given to me by the Ministry of Defence, based on the police records submitted to them. If you have more details or evidence on the matter, present it to the Court as there is case pending.”
Asked whether she was still alive, Gunawardena assured that she was.
In a press release, published on Thursday, the Commonwealth Secretariat's spoksperson and Director of Communications and Public Affairs, Richard Uku, clarified regarding media accreditation for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) due to be held in Sri Lanka later this year.
The statement comes amidst increasing controversy surrounding the media accreditation for international journalists, following remarks by Sri Lankan officials - including the Media Minister, Keheliya Rambukwella, and the Consul General to New South Wales, Australia, Bandula Jayasekara. See here.
Such interference by the host country into the international media presence at a CHOGM is unprecedented.
Highlighting the sentence in bold, the spokesperson's statement read: "As is customary, the Commonwealth Secretariat is the final authority for all international media accreditation for CHOGM", but added "The accreditation process will be carried out in collaboration with the host country authorities, who are responsible for processing and approving visa applications by accredited media."
The statement comes as another journalist for a Tamil media source, Uthayan, was attacked.
See here for full statement, further extracts reproduced below.
In an open letter to the Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) expressed concern regarding the media accreditation process for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Sri Lanka this November.
The IMF's Director for the Asia-Pacific Region has praised poverty reduction in Sri Lanka and credited President Mahinda Rajapakse for development that he says has taken place.
Dr Anoop Singh, an Indian national who has been director for the region since 2008, said that the IMF will continue to support Sri Lanka.
A protester that invaded the pitch during the International Cricket Champions trophy match , in Cardiff, between Sri Lanka and India, pleaded guilty to a section five public order offence at Cardiff Maistrates’ Court.
Sri Lanka has signed a maritime cooperation agreement with the Maldives and India during a National Security Advisor (NSA) meeting in Colombo on Monday.
An American tea company, Walters Bay International, has threatened to leave Sri Lanka, following the murder of the estate manager in Nooriya Tea Estate in Deraniyagala, last Friday, reports BBC Sinhala.
The estate manager, Nihal Perara was hacked to death by 5 people who reportedly objected to Perara's attempts to fight corruption and wastage.
